Texas Southern University Announces Appointment of Dr. Jennifer H. Stephens as Vice President for Marketing and Communications

Texas Southern University is pleased to announce the appointment of Dr. Jennifer H. Stephens as Vice President for Marketing and Communications, following approval by the Board of Regents at its Standing Meeting on October 16, 2025.

Dr. Stephens brings more than two decades of senior leadership experience in higher education, with a proven record in strategic communications, branding, marketing, digital engagement, crisis management, and change leadership. She joins Texas Southern from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, a Carnegie R1 research institution, where she served as Associate Vice President for Communications and Marketing and as the University’s chief communications and marketing officer.

 During her tenure at UL Lafayette, Dr. Stephens led comprehensive initiatives that elevated the university’s national visibility. She directed the successful relaunch of the institution’s website and guided its social media program to national recognition among NCAA Division I universities for digital engagement. She also oversaw communications for major institutional milestones, including the 125th Anniversary Celebration, the opening of a new Health Sciences campus, key research achievements, and a period of historic construction and expansion.

Prior to her role in Louisiana, Dr. Stephens held several senior leadership positions at Georgia Gwinnett College, including Deputy Chief of Staff to the President, Associate Vice President for Public Affairs, and Interim Executive Director of Government and External Relations. Her leadership helped guide the college’s strategic planning and presidential initiatives during a period of rapid growth, from its founding enrollment of 118 students to more than 13,000 within its first decade. 

President J.W. Crawford III stated, “Dr. Stephens brings a rare combination of creativity, strategic vision, and executive experience that will significantly enhance how Texas Southern tells its story, locally, nationally, and globally. Her leadership will be instrumental as we continue to unify our brand and elevate our institutional profile in alignment with our vision of Excellence in Achievement.”

Dr. Stephens earned her Ph.D. in Higher Education from the University of Georgia, a Master of Divinity in Biblical Studies from the New Orleans Baptist Theological Seminary, and dual B.A. degrees in Psychology and Graphic Design from Auburn University, with additional study at Sorbonne Université in Paris.

With her extensive expertise, Dr. Stephens will provide strategic oversight of all marketing, communications, and brand initiatives for Texas Southern. Her work will focus on advancing the University’s reputation for academic excellence, research innovation, and community impact through integrated and compelling storytelling.

“I am deeply honored to join Texas Southern University at such a pivotal moment in its history,” said Dr. Stephens. “I look forward to partnering with President Crawford, the Board of Regents, and the entire Texas Southern community to amplify the University’s visibility and share its extraordinary story with the world.” 

Dr. Stephens and her husband, Todd, are the proud parents of two daughters.